Jason Kelce Retired Like He Played—On His Own Terms, With Emotion

Jason Kelce walked to the podium on Monday to announce his retirement decision and immediately—one more time, for good measure—committed a false start or two.

"Thanks for coming guys," the longtime Eagles center said. "Let's see how long this lasts."

Instantly, Kelce started crying, which foreshadowed the 36-year-old's decision to step away from football after 13 seasons in Philadelphia. He continued to weep for nearly a minute, stopped and took several big breaths.

"This is going to be long," he said.

It was, which was appropriate for a player who cared deeply about his team, his family and—of course—the game of football.

For nearly 40 minutes, Kelce struggled through his announcement, pausing frequently to collect himself and mutter things like "Oh my gosh" and "Come on now" under his breath. He thanked the city of Philadelphia profusely and repeatedly. He thanked his Eagles teammates. He thanked his family, all of whom were in the front row, including his brother Travis. He thanked Andy Reid. He thanked his high school coaches. He thanked Eagles chief security officer Dom DiSandro. He thanked a bar in Philadelphia that closed down within six months. He thanked Eagles coach Jeff Stoutland for continuing to believe in him in his "darkest hours in Philadelphia," particularly in 2016 when he believed the rest of the organization was ready to move on.

"I think one of the greatest things a human being can give another is belief," Kelce said. "This world, life, they can be hard. They can challenge you to points of self-doubt, and that's a dangerous place to be. I am lucky. I have been surrounded my whole life by people who believed in me."

Throughout Kelce's speech, he kept coming back to a couple of key themes. First, he loves the city of Philadelphia and the Eagles' organization.

"It's only too poetic that I found my career being fulfilled in the City of Brotherly Love," he said at one point. "[...]They will let you know when you are not performing well, every time. But they will also love you if you show effort, aggression, desire, the will to fight. They will love you in this city if you love it the way you love your brother. You will be loved by going above and beyond to show that you care, because they care."

Second, he loves his family. He described seeing his wife Kylie for the first time, and the way she "glided" into the room. He talked about how being a present and devoted father might be the best thing a man can be. He spoke glowingly of watching his father Ed's work in the steel industry, and the way Ed encouraged him to work through his insecurities. He praised his mother Donna for passing down her defiant spirit against detractors, teaching him not to let anyone tell you what you can't do. He said that without Travis, he wouldn't have reached this point.

"We won countless Super Bowls in our minds before ever leaving the house," Jason said.

And finally, Kelce is deeply grateful (and a little self-deprecating). Some 37 minutes into his speech, Kelce finally announced his retirement with only a slight break in his voice. He paused again.

"Today I must admit, I am officially overrated," he said. "Vastly overrated. But f***, it took a lot of hard work and determination getting here. I have been the underdog my entire career, and I mean this when I say it, I wish I still was. Few things gave me more joy than proving someone wrong."

Others might not agree that Kelce was overrated. The Pro Football Hall of Fame posted on X, formerly Twitter, about his retirement, writing that the year 2029 is "now worth noting." Pro Football Reference ranks Kelce seventh among centers in its estimates of players' chances to make the Hall of Fame, above one who is already in.

Whether or not he makes it, Kelce—who needed a hand towel to dry his tears at various points—can take some comfort in knowing that he achieved several of his goals on his own terms.

"It has always been a goal of mine to play my whole career in one city," he said. "I couldn't have dreamt of a better one and a better fit if I tried. I don't know what's next, but I look forward to the new challenges and opportunities that await, and I know that I carry with me the lessons of my time here, and that forever we shall all share the bond of being Philadelphia's."

"That's all I got," he said with a wry laugh before walking off the stage and into retirement.